Honda Pilot vs Kia Telluride

In the class of midsize SUVs, the Honda Pilot and the Kia Telluride are among the leading options on the market. Here, we compare the latest versions of these popular models to help you decide on the most suitable vehicle for your needs.

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Trim Options and Standard Features

The 2022 Honda Pilot is available in seven trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Special Edition, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. In terms of standard features, there are several differences between your options. The Sport comes standard with cloth seats, heated front seats, a seven-speaker audio system, an 8-inch touchscreen, a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic monitoring, and 20-inch alloy wheels. From there, the standard features vary in different ways, with each successive level taking on many of the features from the previous trim. For example:

• EX-L: leather-wrapped steering wheel, four-way power front passenger seat, one-touch power moon roof, power front seats plus with memory settings for the driver’s seat, one-touch power rear seats, power tailgate, driver memory settings, three USB charging ports, silver roof rails, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
• Special Edition: wireless phone charger, power tailgate with hands-free access, LED foglights, black roof rails, and 20-inch black alloy wheels.
• TrailSport: leather-trimmed seats, three-zone automatic climate control, intelligent traction management, LED low-beam headlights,18-inch black alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.
• Touring: heated front seats and outboard second-row seats,10-speaker audio system and multi-zone audio, rear entertainment system, acoustic glass, 20-inch alloy wheels.
• Elite: heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain chairs, panoramic roof with moon roof, 20-inch alloy wheels.
• Black Edition: black exterior trim and trim accents, Black Edition leather-trimmed seats, smart entry and walk-away auto-locking system, 20-inch alloy wheels.

In comparison, the 2022 Kia Telluride comes in four trim levels: LX, S, EX, and SX. With the base LX model, your standard features include a synthetic leather interior, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an automatic window defogger, automatic temperature control in the rear, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, a six-speaker audio system, a push-button start system, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Moving upward, each advanced level has everything offered in the previous plus additional features. These include:

• S Trim: three-setting heated front seats, second-row captain chairs, leather-wrapped shifting knob, wireless phone charger, power sunroof, roof rails, 20-inch alloy wheels.
• EX Trim: leather-trimmed seats in all rows, three-setting ventilated front seats, eight-way power passenger seat, power-folding exterior mirrors, automatically dimming rearview mirror, programmable, power liftgate,18-inch alloy wheels.
• SX Trim: ten-way power driver’s seat with lumbar/thigh support and seat extension, 7-inch LCD supervision meter cluster, 10-speaker audio system, dual sunroof, LED projector-style headlights and LED fog lights, 20-inch black-finished alloy wheels.

Dimensions

The 2022 Honda Pilot has smaller external dimensions than the Telluride, making it a strong option for cruising through areas like downtown Fairfield. At all trim levels, the Pilot measures 196.5 inches in length and 78.6 inches in width. Only in height is there any variation, as the TrailSport is 71.2 inches tall while the other trims stand at 70.6 inches. The passenger volume totals 151.7 cubic feet for most of the trims, but the Elite and Black Edition offer 153.1 cubic feet.

All trims of the Honda Pilot provide three rows of seating. If you choose the standard seating configuration, you can seat eight people. With the second-row captain chairs, it’s seven. As for cargo space, you get 16 to 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, depending on your trim. This expands to 46.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 83.9 cubic feet behind the first.

The Kia Telluride’s dimensions are consistent across all of its trim levels. Externally, it measures 196.9 inches in length, 73.3 inches in width, and 68.9 inches in height. For models with roof rails, the height goes up 69.3 inches. Inside, the vehicle has 178.1 cubic feet of passenger volume. There’s the same three-row seating and seating capacity variation as the Pilot. The cargo volume is 21 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 46 and 87 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded down, respectively.

Engine

Under the hood of the 2022 Honda Pilot is a V-6 engine that generates 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission, providing significant power and a smooth ride. The Sport, EX-L, Special Edition, and Touring models are available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition are all-wheel drive only.

The Telluride has a 3.8-liter V-6, which is capable of producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. All trim levels have an eight-speed automatic transmission and are available as either front- or all-wheel drive. The engine provides power, but the ride is perhaps less smooth than the Pilot.

Fuel Economy

The fuel economy of the 2022 Honda Pilot has an edge over the Kia Telluride. The specific EPA estimates vary to some extent depending on your trim level and drivetrain option. The front-wheel-drive versions of the Sport, EX-L, Special Edition, and Touring get 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive versions of these trims, as well as the all-wheel-drive-only Elite and Black Edition, get 19 and 26 mpg, respectively. The other all-wheel-drive-only model, the TrailSport, differs in that it gets 25 mpg on the highway.

The Telluride’s front-wheel-drive fuel economy stands at an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. If you’re looking at all-wheel drive, this drops to 19 mpg and 24 mpg, respectively.

Price

The 2022 Pilot presents a range of price points across its seven trims. The Sport is the most economical, with a starting MSRP of $37,580. From there, the starting MSRP rises to $39,810 for the EX-L, $40,410 for the Special Edition, $44,310 for the TrailSport, $44,370 for the touring, $49,870 for the Elite, and $51,370 for the Black Edition.

The 2022 Telluride has a narrower range of price points. The base LX model starts at $33,090, the S at $35,590, the EX at $38,090, and the SX at $42,990. For both the Pilot and the Telluride, choosing all-wheel drive raises the price by $2,000.

If you have any questions or you want to schedule a test drive, send us a message through our contact page or call us at (513) 829-7300. You can also visit us at our Honda dealership in Fairfield, OH located at 5760 Dixie Highway. We’re open six days a week. Our hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. We look forward to serving you.